Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas

These Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas are moist and delicious. They get an overnight marinade in Dr. Pepper and then cook in the soda in a slow cooker to make them the moistest meat you’ll ever have.

When we go to visit my parents in California we usually go to a restaurant in San Clemente called South of Nick’s. They have fantastic Mexican food and some of my favorite margaritas. The first time we went my husband ordered the carnitas and that was it! He loved them and so did I. Now every time we make it in he orders the carnitas. They cook them in Dr. Pepper!

I had never heard of that but then after did some research and found other recipes that use some kind of soda to either marinade the meat or use it as the cooking liquid. I thought, why not both.

I also found that with most carnitas recipes if you want them crispy you’re either frying the meat in some kind of oil or you aren’t eating them crispy. This method gets the meat crispy but still moist using the broiler for a few minutes after it’s finished cooking. It works!!! The meat was so moist and delicious but the edges were just the right amount of crispiness.

I made these to eat while we watched the Super Bowl this weekend. I wanted something different to top them with than just the traditional taco toppings. There is something about pork that calls for sweet something to go with it. We eat apple sauce with pork chops, baked apples with pork loin, and now these carnitas and red cabbage slaw. I usually like fresh jalapenos in my food but the vinegar flavor of the pickled jalapenos really works well with the slightly sweet flavor of the red cabbage slaw. I definitely recommend these for your next family dinner. If you loved this recipe, be sure to try some of my other best crock pot recipes!